Amalgamating apparatus foe crushed ores and like



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

W. W. FYPE. AMALGAMATING APPARATUS FOR ORUSHED ORBS AND LIKE REDUCED BODIES.

Patented Aug. 9, 1892.

aka/ah (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

, A W. W. FYPB. AMALGAMATING APPARATUS FOR GRUSHBD ORES AND LIKE REDUCED BODIES.

No. 480,366. Patented Aug. 9, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. FYFE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

AMALGAMATING APPARATUS FOR CRUSHED ORES AND LIKE REDUCED BODIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,366, dated August 9, 1892.

Application filed September 17, 1891. Serial No. 405,987. (No model.) Patented in England June 3, 1890, No. 8,609: in France March 28, 189L110. 212,419; in Belgium April 1,1891,N0.94,369; in Germany March 31, 189L110. 59,901; in Italy March 31, 1891, XXV, 29,709, and LIX. 41; in Spain April 7, 1891, and in Austria-Hungary April 10, 1891.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WALKER FYFE, hydraulic engineer, of 41 Hillside Road, Stamford Hill, London, England, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Amalgamating Apparatus for Crushed Ores and Like Reduced Bodies, (for which I have obtained patents as follows: in England, N 0. 8,609, June 3, 1890; in France, No. 212,419, March 28, 1891; in Belgium, No. 9 1,369, April 1, 1891; in Germany, No. 59,901, March 31, 1891; in Italy, March 31, 1891, Reg. Gen, Vol. XXV, No. 29,709, and Reg. Att.,Vol. LIX, No. 41; in Spain, April 7,189l,and application in Austria-Hungary of the date of April 10, 1891,) of which the following is a specification thereof, reference being had to the two sheets of illustrative drawings accompanying this applicationthat is to say:

This invention relates to certain improvements in amalgamator apparatus for crushed ores and like bodies to secure or separate out the precious metal.

The object of the invention is to make such apparatus so as to fulfill the essential conditions necessaryto successful operation. These conditions as effected by this apparatus may be enumerated and designated as follows: (a,) prolonged immersion of the pulp (reduced bodies) in the body'of mercury; (1),) the equal and complete distribution of the pulp in the mercury body or stratum; (0,) agitation of the mercury stratum to insure complete contact with the divided portions of the pulp; (01,) cessation of the flow of the bodies treated after passing through the mercury stratum; ((2,) facility for the emerging of bodies from the apparatus after having passed through the mercury stratum; (f,) the removal of the amalgam after treatment of the pulp; (g,) rapidity of treatment of the pulp; (h,) lightness of the parts of the apparatus for purposes of transort.

p In order that the invention may be well understood, I have annexed hereto a sheet of drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus, looking onto the inlet and outlet openings; Fig. 2, a sectional plan taken atlinezz, showing the lower inlet and amalgamating-chamber; Fig. 3, a sectional plan at line pg of Fig. 1, showing the upper chamber and exit-channel for discharge of the tailings. Fig. at is a transverse section at line a; roof Figs. 2 and 3. The curved arrows marked in Figs. 2 and 3 indicate the flow of the pulp to and out of the respective ports.

The apparatus consists, mainly, of a casing with inlet and outlet ways, which lead into and from a lower and upper chamber, said chainbers being separated from each other by a plate, but communicating with a central space common to both. At the bottom of the central space is the mercury-stratum space or well. The entering of the pulp byports leading under the mercury stratum to the central space and the reversed flow of the failings through tangentially-arranged curved wings and ports of a dividing-wall in the upper chamber to the outlet-Way will be clearly understood by the following more particular description, reference being had to the illustrative drawings.

a is the inlet for the pulp, which passes around the narrowing space a to the mercury chamber or well I) by way of the ports a The equal distribution of the inflowing pulp to the ports a is secured by the narrowing space a. The mercury-well cover is conveniently made as a dished plate I), readily removable, as required.

WVithin the casing, and separating the inlet and outlet passages, is provided the obliquely-disposed plate 0, so as to pass and direct the incoming pulp with the least amount of friction to the under ports (1 The level of the mercury stratum is above the port-openings a and coincident with line 2 z of Figs. 1 and a, and just below the ports h. The under plate (1 carries the radial curved diaphragms 6 so as to distribute the pulp evenly to the central space Z) of the mercury-holder while being passed and after passing through the mercury stratum. The level of the mercury stratum being above the port-openings 5 ICC central space 1). Above the horizontal dividng-plate d, on the outer edge thereof in juxtaposition with the lower termination of the oblique plate 0, is a vertical wall It, having outlet-ports h, and within this vertical wall, abutting thereagainst and extending therefrom toward thecentral space I), are the curved midfeathers or diaphragms 2'. When the incoming pulp arrives in the central chamber 1), it, will rise and its circular motion or current will cause it to strike against and be arrested by the inner edges of the midfeathers t, and by reflection the liquid will take up an opposite direction of movement afterhaving been momentarily stationary. In order to find escape, the tailings then pass between the midfeathers i and thence by the ports h to the outflow passage or way it. There has then been a direction of the pulp down, into, under, and through the mercury stratum, and subsequently a reversal of the flow over the mercury stratum with an interval of stillness for gravitation, and, finally, the exit of the Watery vehicle and foreign bodies from off the surface.

The force required to cause the mingled ore, gangue, and water (pulp) to enter and flow from the apparatus is one and a quarter inches head that is, whatever the height or pressure of the supply it is possible for the discharge of tailings to take place at one inch and a quarter below that as a minimum. The pulp on entering the ports a influenced by the curved plates e, commences to partake along with the mercury of a niotion of rotation. The mercury so influenced commences to act as a suction means and also as a propeller for the inflow and the outflow. This is the reason, demonstrated by practice, that so low a head is required and sulficient to overcome the static resistance of the mercury, and that the work proceeds without any necessity for the application of extraneous force or a great head of inflow as is requisite in other amalgamator apparatus.

The agitation of the mercury effected by the inflow and outflow of the pulp will prevent what is known as a sick surface.

Electricity may be employed, as is well known, to assist this, but from practice it has been found unnecessary.

By the action of the upper currents the whole of the foreign matters are swept out of the machine without loss of mercury, and the sulphnrets and other foreign bodies and tailings may be treated as desired. 1

The cover 1 and the dished plate I) are shown secured by hinged screw-bolts engaging with opened ears m, indicated thereby. The amalgam will be found in the plate I). A tapping cock or plug can be arranged in the said plate I), as required. (This is not shown in the drawings.) I

In working a battery of these amalgamators light rails may be arranged below the same, so that the bottom plates 1) can be disconnected and removed, and other such plates charged with mercury can be speedily fastened in position and the work proceed almost uninterruptedly. The plate I) would in such case be provided with proper rail-runners.

I am aware of the prior patents granted to Crosby and Ladd, No. 36,557, dated September 30,1862; Fleury, No. 73,241, dated January 14, 1868; Brewster. No. 99,630, dated February 8, 1870; Thnot, No. 247,587, dated September 27, 1881,and Porter, No. 245,092, dated August 2, 1881, and do not claim anything set out in the specifications of the said Letters Patent.

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In amalgamator apparatus, the pulp-su pply chamber or casing a a, having the ports a leading the pulp down into, under, and through the mercury stratum, together with the Well I), and plate (1 e, and central opening 1) thereof, as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. In amalgamator apparatus, the combination of the passage on a, with ports a plate 0, mercury-well, and central space b b, the midfeathers and under plate at 6 5, dividingplate h, and ports h distributing the tailings to the outflow-way k, as and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 13th day of January, 1892, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WM. W. FYFE.

Witnesses:

WALTER A. BARLOW, T. T. BARNES. 

